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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER (02/28/19)
Sitting on the concrete bench in the family cemetery, I held my miniature poodle, Lilly. She was a little bundle of cuteness with black curls. As much as I appreciated her, she was a gift from my stepdaughter to my wife. Even being with my poodle caused me to miss Maria.

I had never felt so alone. My heart was devastated so badly that I wished I had died with her. After eighteen years of marriage, all my best memories involved her. Maria had died of brain cancer. Just as the disease had deteriorated her body, dealing with her loss had gradually eaten away parts of my heart.

She was not only my wife but my best friend. I had never met a stronger person in my life. She was a living example of a lady who displayed a genuine love for God, her family, friends, and even strangers. Every time I visited her in the hospital, she would greet me with a big smile on her face. Replaying that memory, that was unbelievable. She was lying in a hospital bed on the cancer ward receiving chemotherapy, and she was so happy to see me. That was a tangible expression of unselfish love that I will never forget.

At home with her one day when she was toward the end of her battle, she whispered the most powerful words I have ever heard. Extremely weak due to the debilitating effects of cancer, she said quietly, “You’re a good man.” Consumed by the daily drain of seeing her grow weaker, the impact didn’t register at that time. I’m sure I was partly numb as a way of surviving the constant stress.

On that isolated, beautiful spot in the country two years later, I looked up and saw the clouds floating in a bright blue sky. I said out loud with tear-filled eyes, “God, forgive me for being mad at You. I know that You are never to blame for my suffering due to death. You alone can take the sting out of grief and enable me to go forward in a new season of life. How much I want to see you face-to-face. Keep Maria company because I can’t wait to see her again too. Thank you for the time we had together. Thanks to her, heaven is more real. God, You blessed me with a very good woman.”
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This article has been read 639 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jenny Miller
03/07/19
Beautiful story. Very touching and well written. I can see your heart in it. I love how you brought it back around to "the spot" at the end.
Karen Vlantis 
03/08/19
Life, at times, can be filled with so much pain - and I can understand someone becoming angry at God - but thankfully, God brings us back to Himself and heals our wounds. I am thankful that in and through our Lord, we have hope in death - and being reunited with our loved ones. Thank you for sharing this story - it moved me a lot. Blessings.
C D Swanson 
03/08/19
This powerfully tender and poignant story held an authentic tone, and if so...my condolences to you.

Well written with an important message that God is always there for us and we have hope in knowing we will be with the LORD and reunited with loved ones again, and at that time, we'll never have to say goodbye again.

Thank you for sharing this with us. Beautiful.

God Bless~
Corinne Smelker 
03/08/19
Such an authentic ring to this story, but what a satisfying ending.

Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/09/19
You did a fine job of taking the reader from despair to hope. Grief is such a difficult topic, but one we can all relate to.
Barbara Culler 
03/10/19
I loved your line about the bundle of cuteness with black curls. So descriptive. Well done and so poignant.
C D Swanson 
03/14/19
Congrats!

I really thought this was such a tender story, I loved the way you wrote this.

Blessings~
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/14/19
Congratulations on ranking 2nd in your level and 14 overall. The highest rankings can be found on the message boards.